Sony and Nikon Begin Development of XQD 2.0 Memory Card Format

The CompactFlash Association (CFA) and the group of supporters of XQD memory card format led by Sony Corp. and Nikon said this week that it had begun the development of XQD 2.0 memory card format. The second specification of XQD will utilize PCI Express 3.0 technology and will bring transfer speeds to memory cards to 1000MB/s, or about 1GB/s.

XQD 1.0 cards and connectors are already available in the marketplace. XQD 2.0 will leverage the same connector interface as XQD 1.0 interface for higher performance and backward compatibility. Host manufacturers and media manufacturers will be able to leverage the PCI Express 3.0 technology to serve the high performance requirements of this market. The new format will have VPG (video performance guarantee) capability with profiles capable of supporting digital intermediate formats such as ProResTM, DPXTM, and DNXhdTM. The XQD 2.0 will utilize PCI Express 3.0 x1 interface, will work at 8Gb/s data rate and will consume 5mW standby power.

“The XQD 2.0 format will enable hardware and imaging applications to leverage the performance benefits of the well established PCI Express infrastructure allowing for many years of higher performance and backward compatible products. The Video Performance Guarantee Features of XQD 2.0 will also widen its appeal meeting the needs of higher end video applications,” said Shigeto Kanda of Canon, chairman of the board of CFA.

CFA is targeting for the XQD 2.0 specification to be available in the second half of 2012.